Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, an IHG Hotel

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what caught me off guard about the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville? It actually feels like a mountain retreat, not just another chain hotel with a nice view. Sitting up on Resort Drive – which, honestly, is kind of tucked away from the main Asheville buzz – this place has this sprawling, lodge-like vibe that works really well with the whole Blue Ridge setting. The lobby’s got these massive windows that frame the mountains perfectly, and I mean, you’re going to want to grab a coffee and just sit there for a minute when you first walk in.

The location is interesting because you’re technically outside the city center, but that’s actually kind of perfect if you want both worlds. Downtown Asheville with all its breweries and weird little shops is maybe a 15-minute drive, but you’re also right there for hiking access – the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance is super close, which locals will tell you is gold during leaf season. The resort itself spreads out enough that it doesn’t feel cramped, and parking is easy (which anyone who’s tried to park downtown on a weekend will appreciate). The rooms are solid 4-star territory – nothing revolutionary, but they’ve clearly been updated recently and the mountain views from the higher floors are legitimately stunning, especially at sunrise when the mist is rolling through the valleys.

What I really liked was how the staff seemed to get that people come here for the outdoor stuff. They’ll actually give you useful trail recommendations instead of just handing you a generic brochure, and the concierge knew which waterfalls were worth the drive versus which ones were tourist traps. The pool area is nice – not fancy, but clean and it’s got mountain views, which beats staring at a parking lot. The restaurant is… well, it’s hotel restaurant food, but decent hotel restaurant food, and honestly after a day of hiking around Looking Glass Falls or Grandfather Mountain, you’re probably just happy to not have to drive somewhere else. One small thing – the elevators can be slow during busy times, and if you’re on the upper floors with heavy hiking gear, that’s sort of annoying. But overall, this feels like one of those places where the 7.9 rating makes sense – it’s doing most things well without trying to be something it’s not. If you want to be in the heart of Asheville’s music scene, stay downtown. But if you want mountain access with actual resort amenities and don’t mind a short drive to the city action, this hits that sweet spot pretty well.